Amazing Fantastic Incredible: A Marvelous Memoir

If ever there was a human capable of superhero feats, that would be Stan Lee, the co-creator of The Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, Thor, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man and S.H.I.E.L.D. Lee's ideas redefined comics for the modern era, and his autobiography, Amazing Fantastic Incredible, published as a full-color graphic memoir with the help of writer Peter David and illustrator Colleen Doran, provides insight into Marvel Comics and its remarkable cast of artists.

Lee recounts his origin story--how he got into the business--of first serving as assistant to Joe Simon and Jack Kirby at Timely Comics, and then his promotion when Simon and Kirby quit. Drafted during World War II, Lee served his time creating venereal disease warning posters. When the war ended, Lee returned to Timely Comics (which became Marvel Comics) and evolved into the ideas man; artists such as Steve Ditko and many others turned these ideas into art, and elevated these characters to pop culture legends. Lee railed against strict comics regulations and dared to tell stories that involved serious issues, single-handedly changing the face and voice of comics by infusing his characters with an element of humanity. Lee also covers the rise and fall of the comics industry--its descent a result of mass production, and its second coming in the early 2000s with the revival of Iron Man and The Avengers film franchises.

Lee's boisterous, charismatic and hammy personality adds to his already mythical stature, while Doran's reproduction of classic Marvel covers is breathtaking--almost a good enough substitute for owning the actual books. --Nancy Powell, freelance writer and technical consultant

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